Axelrod Slams Boehner: 'Congress Sitting on Its Hands'

Democratic strategist David Axelrod accused House Speaker John Boehner Friday of complaining too much about government and not doing enough to make it work for the American people.

Calling his approach to legislating "squeal and appeal," Axelrod suggested the Ohio Republican was standing in the way of progress on a variety of issues.

"He said last week before the president made a speech he's going to be judged by the laws he repealed, not by the laws he passes," Axelrod said of Boehner on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"Well, if squeal and repeal is your approach to government, then we have a problem," the former Obama campaign and White House political adviser added.

"It may irritate Speaker Boehner to hear it because he doesn't agree, but the American people voted on it. This is what the president ran on. He won a solid victory. Now Congress is sitting on its hands. So the president's going out there and making his case."

Axelrod pointed to the economy as being the most important issue for most Americans. Obama's willing to confront it, Republicans are not, he suggested.

"The big issue is, are we going to have a reasonable discussion about how to move the country forward or simply sit on our hands?"

The political expert called the IRS targeting of conservative groups "stupid," "disturbing" and "insane." But he said he did not believe it was a "scandal" and noted there are "much bigger issues" lawmakers ought to be dealing with.

"We shouldn't let that be a distraction as we try and deal with these issues."